July 23, 2015

Did you know that there are more than 60,000 San Diegans living with Alzheimer’s today and more than 150,000 are caring for someone with the disease? With Alzheimer’s disease reaching epidemic levels in San Diego County, regional leaders have united to tackle the terrible toll of the disease on families, communities and our healthcare system. Elected officials, researchers, caregivers and others have come together under the umbrella of The Alzheimer’s Project, a county-led initiative launched last year to speed up the search for a cure of what is now the region’s third leading cause of death.

Among those leading the effort are county Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Alzheimer’s Association President/CEO Mary Ball. World-class researchers at UC San Diego, Scripps Research Institute, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and Salk Institute are also participating.

The Alzheimer’s Project is addressing the disease from many angles. Physicians are developing the region’s first clinical standards for the disease. Law enforcement officials are ramping up efforts to curb wandering among those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. County health officials are working to boost services for families and other caregivers. And, with the help of a generous donation from philanthropist Darlene Shiley, the Alzheimer’s Association is spearheading a fund drive to spur additional local research with the hope of eventually finding a treatment or cure.

The unfortunate truth is that many of your employees may be affected by Alzheimer’s in some way – 66 percent of employed caregivers reported having to work late, leave early or take time off due to caregiver demands. The Alzheimer’s Association has a number of programs and services designed to offer support and information for caregivers and those affected by Alzheimer’s, including the “Lunch and Learn” program which is geared specifically for businesses.

The Alzheimer’s Association Lunch and Learn program is a free and easy way for companies to educate their employees about the disease and connect them with resources and support. This program consists of a 35 to 40 minute presentation and Q&A opportunity at a location of your choosing. For more information or to schedule a Lunch and Learn for your company or group, please contact Morgan Hutter at 858-966-3300 or mhutter@alz.org.

The Alzheimer’s Association also hosts the Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Two walks will be held in San Diego. The first will be in Oceanside on October 3 and the second in Balboa Park on October 17. Click here to learn more about Walk To End Alzheimer’s. To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association, visit www.alz.org/sandiego.

FACTS:

• Alzheimer’s costs American businesses $61 billion a year in health care expenses and lost productivity due to caregiver absenteeism.
• According to the Society for Human Resource Management, nearly 6/10 individuals caring for an aging loved one work full-time.
• 66% of employed caregivers reported having to work late, leave early or take time off due to caregiver demands.
• 44% of caregivers also work full or part-time.
• 78% of consumers are more likely to buy a product or patronize a business that is associated with a favored cause.
• 66% of consumers would switch brands to support a preferred cause.